Night Catches Us

Artfully filmed, the tone is at once breezy and comfortable--set deep within a Philadelphia neighborhood full of barbecues and lazy porch play in the summer of 1976--and tense, as the characters try to both defend and escape their violent past.

Powerful performances by Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie, and great to see Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce play roles that pay homage to the ones they perfected in The Wire.

Interesting, though sometimes jarring, use of archival photos and footage, and yes, a stirring and sweltering score written by the Roots.

[photo courtesy Magnolia Pictures]